Computer science gcse

[HeySmidge]

My daughter built her own computer last year and understands technical stuff but struggles with maths. Could she do well at computer science gcse despite the lack of natural maths ability? Would the maths hinder CS exam results?

When you say struggles with Maths what do you mean exactly please?

My son was exactly the same. Also built a PC

But he struggled with A-Level Computer Science and ended up hating it.

shes disinterested in maths and bottom set, would be mid set if she put more effort in.

What year is she now? They do need some maths skills for GCSE computer science, you can find the specification online if you know which exam board it is. I will say that if she did a teeny bit of maths every day she would improve and maybe her disinterest would be less because she understands it more.

She has the whole of summer holidays and probably, what, 12 - 14 hours every day being awake that she could put some time towards her maths knowledge. There are youtube videos of Computer Science GCSE content, such as Craig n Dave and to be honest it is quite dull in terms of topics covered. Having said that both my children did computer science GCSE, A level and one did it for a degree and is now a software engineer.

In our school, if they're below average at maths (ie on track for a GCSE grade 4 or lower) they are steered towards the BTEC rather than the GCSE as they would probably struggle with the GCSE. Is that an option in your school?

Can she code? The core of computer science is coding and strong maths skills often go with coding. However, the GCSE doesn’t have much coding, and has lots of theory which can be dull.

scratch is a good place to start with coding.

Thankyou, yes she codes

This might depend on the exam board (I’m assuming there’s more than one), because my DC is currently doing GCSE computer science and it’s 50% coding, 50% theory (networks, databases, hardware etc).

I think the exam is 50% coding 50% theory

My sons found the course boring.

My son has found it the easiest of all his GCSEs, though not interesting enough to choose for A level.

What was his maths ability please?

I don't thinknit suits students more interested in computer hardware. It's more programming, software etc. She certainly would struggle at A level. Is there another option? My daughter did IT gcse many years ago and found it very useful. It was more software use based such as Microsoft Office etc. Might be worth looking at what local colleges offer regarding more hardware based BTECs and what gases they ask for. If she's interested though encourage her as IT is still woefully short of diversity, especially women.

He is very good at Maths but he's never done coding. He has a good memory.

I mean he'd never done any before the course and doesn't practise at home

I just asked DS and he said "There is not much maths, you've just got to be good at coding." He said there are kids taking it who are on foundation paper Maths. I think there's also memorising theory stuff, which he's forgotten but that's not Maths either, more like learning facts. Does she have a good memory?

Yes she’s got a good memory but only in things she’s interested in